Best use of $20k right now in DVC


What is the best use of $20k or less right now in DVC (from a purely financial perspective)?

From an entirely frugal perspective (classroom teacher here):

Buy a legacy 2 bedroom lock-off Marriott week at a low maintenance fee resort (Grand Chateau or Grande Vista) for a purchase price of $3,000 resale, lock off the room and trade into SSR and OKW every year for about $1300-$1350 a week for a 1 bedroom (maintenance fees + exchange fees). There are plenty of deposits just sitting there for the taking (in the picture below). The same unit using SSR points costs about $2500 a week when you factor in purchase price + maintenance fees.

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Stay 1 week at SSR or OKW in the 1 bedroom and trade the studio side for a 2 bedroom in any of the Marriott Orlando locations for an upgrade fee of $198 plus $164 exchange fee. The Palms resorts (Royal/Sabal/Imperial) have access to the World Center hotel literally 2 minutes from WDW property and it has 3 body slides, 3 tube slides and a lazy river in its pool complex. If you only want 1 week a year then buy a every other year deed and alternate between a DVC and a Marriott stay.

DVC is a luxury purchase and makes 0 mathematical sense to buy over other timeshare systems. You're going to pay rediculous prices just for the brand. If the price is worth it for you, then go for it. I don't find it worth it, so I only own 50 DVC points to use in addition to my other ownerships that make much more financial sense.
 
Financially speaking if I were to spend $20k now, assuming this was your one and only DVC purchase, I would buy Poly or Copper Creek. If you want studios then Poly, if you prefer 1-2 beds then Copper Creek. Direct or resale is up to you.
 
From an entirely frugal perspective (classroom teacher here):

Buy a legacy 2 bedroom lock-off Marriott week at a low maintenance fee resort (Grand Chateau or Grande Vista) for a purchase price of $3,000 resale, lock off the room and trade into SSR and OKW every year for about $1300-$1350 a week for a 1 bedroom (maintenance fees + exchange fees). There are plenty of deposits just sitting there for the taking (in the picture below). The same unit using SSR points costs about $2500 a week when you factor in purchase price + maintenance fees.

View attachment 647186

Stay 1 week at SSR or OKW in the 1 bedroom and trade the studio side for a 2 bedroom in any of the Marriott Orlando locations for an upgrade fee of $198 plus $164 exchange fee. The Palms resorts (Royal/Sabal/Imperial) have access to the World Center hotel literally 2 minutes from WDW property and it has 3 body slides, 3 tube slides and a lazy river in its pool complex. If you only want 1 week a year then buy a every other year deed and alternate between a DVC and a Marriott stay.

DVC is a luxury purchase and makes 0 mathematical sense to buy over other timeshare systems. You're going to pay rediculous prices just for the brand. If the price is worth it for you, then go for it. I don't find it worth it, so I only own 50 DVC points to use in addition to my other ownerships that make much more financial sense.

If you want to stay at WDW every year, it makes no mathematical sense to buy another timeshare system, lol. Who knows what trading availability will be there in the future.
 
Since you didn't mention any preferences regarding resort or room size, I'm thinking (or simply assuming) you are flexible and just want semi regular Disney vacations on property. I would use the 20K to buy about 150 SSR resale points. I think that's still the best value given initial cost, expiration date, dues, variety and quality of accommodations if you can't (or don't want) to switch resorts at 7 months, while still on property and a nice resort in it's own right.

With 150 pts you could do a week in a studio, a long weekend in a 1BR, or bank/borrow and do 2BRs for several days and bring more family/friends. So lots of flexibility and the option to SAP (sleep around). Maybe one year you'll find availability at, say, VGF, and will feel all smug having used your more economical points at an expensive resort. There will still be enough variety in the legacy DVC resorts for the time being that you shouldn't need access to the new and next resorts that will come on line.

So that's what I would do with 20K if they were destined for DVC but I had no predilections.
 
Really depends on your exit strategy and your travel style. DVC math might not work at all if you are staying in cheaper rooms.
 
If you want to stay at WDW every year, it makes no mathematical sense to buy another timeshare system, lol. Who knows what trading availability will be there in the future.

I've been able to do it every single year I've owned Wyndham when it was through RCI (4 years). You just put your ongoing search request in at least a year in advance and you'll be first in line for the deposit. Interval International has the same system (first come first serve). Worst case scenario, you stay at the World Center or Lakeshore Reserve, which are both better than half the DVC resorts anyways. Most of the DVC resorts have basic pools. There aren't any lazy rivers and usually only 1 slide.
 
I always love seeing these aggressive trade-ins to DVC. Then I remember I'll never stay at SSR, haha.
 
You can do the trading game, and many people do it successfully. But I would argue if you are doing that just go and rent on redweek since there is tons of availability there for about the same cost.

If buying DVC for 20k your best use of money is still SSR resale. You should be able to get 150 points and at 7 months out you can switch and find a decent amount of options.
 
SSR has gotten a lot better since they updated it and improved Disney Springs. I always stay at the Grandstand 8000 buildings (2 min walk to the DS boat). I go to DS pretty much every day I'm there.
Not trying to derail the OP`s thread but what's your trick to "always stay at the Grandstand 8000 buildings"?
 



















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